Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill related to book bans in schools, requiring the State Board of Education to establish a database of banned library media and requiring each school board to establish a library advisory committee in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board to maintain a database of all library media that is rejected by public schools in North Carolina (Sec. 1). 

• Requires governing bodies of public schools to establish policies for the selection and procurement of library media, including a recommendation review process (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that the policy adopted by governing bodies shall include a community library advisory committee of 10 members to determine that library media meets the following criteria (Sec. 2):

• Enriches students’ learning;

• Meets high standards in quality; and

• Is appropriate for the age, grade level, intellectual development, and ability level of the students who will have access to it.

• Specifies that library media is not appropriate for any age, grade level, intellectual development, or ability level of students if it includes descriptions or visual depictions of sexual activity or is pervasively vulgar (Sec. 2).

• Requires consideration of any recommendations made by the community library advisory committee to be completed within 60 days of its submission (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the community library advisory committee to submit recommendations to be made publicly available on the public school’s website (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text